Mishap averted as Air France flight makes emergency landing

Mishap was averted the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos when an Air France flight from Paris declared an emergency as it approached the airport.

According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the captain said he noticed that the Left Hand Nose Tyre Pressure Indicator was on, which suggested the Nose Wheels of the aircraft were faulty.

“Observing the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) which is a corollary to safe operation, the pilot declared an emergency,” NCAA spokesman Mr Fan Ndubuoke said in a statement.

However, Ndubuoke said the aircraft and all the 168 passengers and 10 crew members that were on board, landed safely at the Lagos airport.

The aircraft is an Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCC performing flight AF-3832 from Paris Charles de Gaulle (France) to Lagos (Nigeria).

An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.

The captain of the flight later explained to the NCAA that the ‘Nose Tyre Pressure Indicator’ was faulty hence the wrong signal. But it was later discovered to be in good condition.

A cross-section of online commenter however believe the risk of emergency landing was greater than the risk of a faulty indicator.

A commenter said: “Not sure why they felt a need to make an emergency landing for that since this flaw would apply no matter where they land. Might as well have continued to original destination as they would incur risk no matter where.”

A pilot however said the incidence came with some pressure risks especially at high altitudes.

He said: “You might not have full pressure but enough for a shot at a safer landing with some pressure than none at all waiting to get to destination and fully depressurizing the tires at higher altitude.”

An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.

This particular type of emergency landing falls under the category of precautionary landing which may result from a planned landing at a location about which information is limited, from unanticipated changes during the flight, or from abnormal or even emergency situations. This may be as a result of problems with the aircraft, or a medical or police emergency. The sooner a pilot locates and inspects a potential landing site, the less the chance of additional limitations being imposed by worsening aircraft conditions, deteriorating weather, or other factors.